LED Taillights, are they worth it?

"Nymphicus Hollandicus" (nymhicus-hollandicus) 08/16/2016 at 09:39 • Filed to: Scarlett, Hyundai Elantra

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I’ve been thinking about getting clear LED taillights for my Elantra since I’ve always liked the clear LED look. It would look like this.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! My question is would it be worth it? Thoughts?

jimz > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 09:43

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they have the advantage of being brighter and quicker to activate. LEDs have a “rise time” (time between application of current and actual light-up) of nanoseconds, while the rise time of incandescents is so slow you can see it. it’s for that reason I put LED indicator lights on my motorcycle.

also, the ones you linked to have the advantage of looking halfway decent.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 10:02

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Those lights you posted...meh, not my taste but whatever. LEDs are definitely worth the investment, though. I'd probably just stick with the factory housing and replace the bulbs.

450X_FTW > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 10:06

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Can speak for after market, but factory I feel they are far easier to see when conditions are bad (rain, fog, snow). Helps stand out much easier to those behind you. Dodge Durango for example

Justin Hughes > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 10:07

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I like LEDs. I’m not a fan of the clear look, to the point where I tinted my BRZ’s clear taillights red.

But that’s just personal preference.

I also switched to LED bulbs for the turn signals. Unexpected benefit: Despite the housing being tinted red, they still shine amber when illuminated. I prefer that to red so that it’s clear that it’s a turn signal, not a brake light.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 08/16/2016 at 10:12

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Wouldn’t you need to add a load resister or something if you go this route?

TylerJ > 450X_FTW 08/16/2016 at 10:14

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I love the racetrack taillights Dodge is doing.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > jimz 08/16/2016 at 10:25

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That’s basically the reason why I want to switch to leds.

Bourbon&JellyBeans > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 10:38

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I’ve always found aftermarket lighting to be somewhat temperamental at best and shoddy at worst. One thing I’ve vowed never to fuck with on a car is the factory lighting. The lights that you’ve linked to seem to only have two reviews. I don’t know about it. Honestly, I’d say your money is better spent elsewhere.

Yes, LEDs are brighter and illuminate virtually instantly, but people don’t rear-end you because they didn’t see your brake lights, they rear end you because their head is up their ass and the brightest taillights in the world won’t fix that.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 10:39

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Yes

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 10:49

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Stock LED’s from 2007. Thanks Mercury:

Textured Soy Protein > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 11:09

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Only for turn signals, not anything else.

Textured Soy Protein > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 11:12

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The “peep my sweet aftermarket taillights on my econobox” look isn’t a good one, IMHO. Those particular housings don’t look very good.

The LED stripes across the back appear to be only for the tail light, and there’s a regular bulb/reflector behind them for brake lights. The LED could actually be just an accent and that bulb behind them is also on all the time. So you’d have to put an LED bulb in there anyway. The turn signals appear to be LED.

If you want your brake lights to come on faster, put LED bulbs in them. You could do LED reverse lights and license plate lights as well. Turn signals are a bit more problematic, with having to add resistors and whatnot. I’d just stick with the LED brake, reverse and license plate bulbs.

RazoE > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 11:34

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I cleared out my original tails and added LEDs.

Clearing was free, LEDs (good ones like mine) were $140. Plus you have OEM fitment!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 11:43

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I put LED bulbs in my classic cars, they show up much better in the smaller lights that they had before. I added another whole bulb to the Mercedes. What I don’t like are eye level Audi SUVs with LEDs so bright they blind the fuck out of me. I have a problem with the new headlights and taillights, who thought blinding everyone was a good idea?? There needs to be a lumen cap.

GTI Sprinks > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 12:03

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Second this opinion. Keeps your oem housings, find a manufacturer that carries decent bulbs (i always recommend deautokey for vw, and i know they’ve gone across brands now for most bulb shapes/sizes). Noticeable increase in lightup time, brighter, saves money from not buying additional housing, doesn’t look ricey. Personally, I think clear tails like that only work on white/gray/silver/black cars too.

Scott > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 12:29

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I like LED taillights simply for the piece of mind that a failure is far less likely to happen.

Gripevo1 > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 13:29

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Ew. No.

Arrivederci > Nymphicus Hollandicus 08/16/2016 at 15:38

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You can upgrade the flasher relay. When I upgraded the taillights and front blinker bulbs on my BRZ to LED units, I just had to remove the old flasher relay and install a new one.